Parents feel education should not come at the cost of their livelihoods. If the government standardises fees or strengthens public schools, they can breathe a sigh of relief.
Published Dec 02, 2024 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Dec 11, 2024 | 3:32 PM
Rising cost of schooling. (Supplied)
The cost of education, especially in metropolises, has become a significant financial burden for parents. This is the first article in a 2-part series on exorbitant school fees in capital cities of Southern States.
Several parents are frustrated over the skyrocketing fees, hidden charges, and a lack of transparency. Parents across states like Telangana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka share a common sentiment: The urgent need for regulation in school fees.
Niharika, a software professional, is paying steep preschool fees. She pays ₹22,000 monthly for her two-year-old daughter at KLAY. The fees include ₹16,500 for tuition and ₹2,000 for meals.
“Despite the cost, there’s little accountability. The caregiver-to-toddler ratio promised was 1:4, but I often see only two or three caregivers managing over 15 kids,” she said.
“My daughter doesn’t display any new behaviors or skills taught at school. Education is turning into a commercial necessity for working parents,” she added.
In comparison, another preschool chain T.I.M.E, charges ₹55,000 annually, with better caregiver ratios. “Some high-end schools even charge in six figures annually for preschoolers,” a parent noted.
However, not every education institute was forthcoming with the fee. Yet another play-school refused to reveal its curriculum or the fee structure.
Upon further inquiry, an official said revealing the fee would go against the company’s policy. Many parents do not choose the institute based on the fees.
“We need to convince the parents why it is important for their children to join us,” the official said, requesting an in-person meeting. Exorbitant schools fees is a reality in all top cities.
School fees in Kerala. (South First)
Parents in Kerala’s capital Thiruvananthapuram face similar challenges. Meena, a resident of Kazhakoottam, spends ₹43,000 annually at SN Public School. It includes ₹13,000 as admission fees and ₹2,400 as tuition fees monthly, and “unnecessary” fees like ₹1,800 for Annual Day celebrations.
Anjali Akhil from Edapazhinji pays ₹43,000 at a popular franchise preschool like T.I.M.E but coughs up additional transport ₹2,800 and uniform ₹2,000 charges, stretching her budget further. The lack of sports activities adds to her concerns about educational priorities.
For parents like Neetha Xavier, with two children in Christ Nagar School, the admission fees is ₹55,000 and ₹10,500 term fees thrice a year per child. She highlighted the recurring issue of unexplained additional fees.
“There’s no transparency, and many charges are imposed without adequate explanation,” she said.
For Bindu, the cost of ensuring quality education for children is no small feat. With two children studying in Class 2 at a private CBSE school, the financial commitment is steep, leaving the family juggling multiple expenses to make ends meet.
At St. Thomas Public School, a reputed private institution, the admission fee alone is ₹38,000, a hefty one-time expenditure.
Tuition fees, charged quarterly at ₹11,500, amount to ₹46,000 annually. Combined with other expenses like uniforms (₹3,000), stationery (₹5,000), and extracurricular activities outside the school (₹15,000), the total average annual expenditure soars to around ₹55,000.
School fees in Tamil Nadu. (South First)
Parents in Tamil Nadu also share their struggles. Kannadasan, whose child studies at SBOA School in Anna Nagar, pays ₹50,000 for preschool, including charges for monthly events. “While it’s a significant amount, the events are well-organised,” he said.
“My daughter studies in Maharishi Vidya Mandir, and we paid ₹35,000 as her preschool fees. For my son, who recently started in the same school, we had to pay ₹38,000. This amount includes all charges, which is a considerable expense given that it’s just preschool. The school follows the CBSE board,” Thillainanthan, a parent of two, told South First.
Divya Rishi from Nungambakkam pays ₹45,000 annually at Lady Andal School, appreciating its straightforward fee structure. However, other schools, like Kids Central in Besant Nagar, charge up to ₹1.5 lakh annually for preschool.
“From this academic year, I no longer run a preschool, but until last year, we charged ₹75,000 per annum for our preschool services,” Anusha Kulothungan, COO of Thejomaya Educational Services said.
“Parents are usually very particular about the infrastructure and cleanliness of preschools. Working parents often prefer exclusive preschools like Euro Kids or Kangaroo Kids, which they also use as daycare facilities,” she added.
Due to such steep fees, many parents are now opting for homeschooling as well. “I decided to homeschool my child because I found the fees for A1 schools ridiculous, especially for preschool. Paying such high amounts at this stage seemed unnecessary. My decision was also influenced by a relative’s recommendation, and I hope it turns out to be the right choice for us.” Ramini, a parent said.
School fees in Karnataka and Telangana. (South First)
Bengaluru parents face some of the steepest preschool fees in the country, with costs ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹1.5 lakh annually.
“Unregulated nursery schools operate unchecked, despite Supreme Court guidelines against exorbitant fees,” said D. Shashi Kumar, General Secretary of the Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka (KAMS).
Kumar attributed this to the absence of oversight for independent nursery schools. “These schools are not recognised, and their accounts are unmonitored. Despite clear Supreme Court guidelines against exorbitant fees, these institutions operate unchecked,” he said.
He emphasised the need for stricter implementation of existing laws, including a 2018 mandate requiring minimum infrastructure and compliance for schools catering to children aged three to six.
The issue isn’t limited to fees alone. Many schools partner with specific brands, compelling parents to buy uniforms and books at inflated prices.
“Schools shouldn’t monopolise or sell directly. Yet, this practice persists under the guise of convenience,” Kumar remarked.
Adding to the problem is the rising number of unregulated nursery schools in the city. “Many parents equate high fees with quality education. The market for such schools thrives on societal pressure to maintain a certain status,” a school consultant said.
While some schools justified high fees by citing advanced curricula, Kumar countered, asking what is being taught at this level—such as motor-skill development—is already part of established methodologies like Maria Montessori.
“Parents pay a premium for what is essentially well-marketed but standard practices,” he explained.
Parents like Shwetha Sharan, founder of the Facebook group Bangalore Schools, echoed these concerns. “The fee hikes are unsustainable, and even with such high costs, the quality of education isn’t guaranteed. It feels exploitative,” she said.
Having lived in Bengaluru for over a decade, Shwetha, who now resides in Mumbai, shared her unique perspective as both a parent and a group administrator. She observed that the school fee hike, often increasing by 10 percent annually, has become a significant financial burden for many.
“What concerns a lot of parents is that there is no quality guaranteed, even though they are paying so much,” she said, highlighting a paradox where rising fees do not always correlate with improved educational outcomes.
She expressed frustration that despite hefty fees, many students still require private tutoring to meet academic standards.
Shwetha noted that parents in her group are paying upwards of ₹1.5 lakh for preschool education, with some international schools charging even higher. While acknowledging the importance of early childhood education, Shwetha expressed concern over what she feels is an exploitative pricing model:
“It feels like taking advantage of a vulnerable parent who wants the best for their child.” The situation is exacerbated by the pressure to secure seats in prestigious schools, often with little assurance of admission once children reach grade one.
KLAY Pre-School charges ₹16,600 per month, with additional fees including an annual charge of ₹18,000, a refundable deposit of ₹15,000, and an optional food charge of ₹2,000 for one meal. The preschool focuses on age-appropriate learning, emphasizing physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development, with live CCTV access for parents. Parents can choose between sending food from home or opting for food provided by the centre.
Footprints Pre-School, on the other hand, offers flexible payment plans, with short-term plans incurring an additional ₹2,000 per month, while long-term plans come with a lower monthly fee but require an upfront annual payment. It also charges a registration fee of ₹7,000 and offers GPS-tracked transportation for an additional cost.
Footprints follows a child-centric, activity-based curriculum based on US educational principles, focusing on holistic development with an English-medium approach. The preschool ensures a low teacher-to-child ratio, with 1:10 for pre-nursery and 1:8 for the playgroup.
Both schools provide live CCTV access to parents, offering a sense of security and transparency in their children’s learning environment.
Parents across states agreed on the need for government intervention.
Following fee hikes in Hyderabad, Telangana has proposed a Fee Regulatory Committee modeled after its existing Admission and Fee Regulatory Committee for professional courses. However, it is unclear if preschool fees will fall under its purview.
Niharika summarized the sentiment of many parents: “Education should not come at the cost of our livelihood. If the government standardises fees or strengthens public schools, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief.”
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
